Clayton Crockett, a professor and director of religious studies at department of philosophy and religion at the University of Central Arkansas was recently featured by the Tehran Times.
Read the article HERE.
College of Liberal Arts
Holocaust Survivor Gideon Frieder To Speak On Campus March 9, 2015
The UCA Department of Philosophy and Religion, UCA Department of History, UCA College of Liberal Arts, UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication, UCA Honors College, Jewish Federation of Arkansas, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum are sponsoring “An Evening with Holocaust Survivor Gideon Frieder.”
Gideon Frieder was born on September 30, 1937, in Zvolen, Slovakia. His family moved to the town of Nove Mesto in Slovakia at the beginning of the war after his father, a rabbi, was offered a position there. Slovak authorities deported Gideon’s grandparents in 1942; they died, most likely at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Gideon’s father was part of Slovakia’s underground “Working Group,” a secret Jewish rescue organization, and was responsible for its communications with Slovak authorities. His father’s life story, as well as Gideon’s, is partially documented in the book, “To Deliver Their Souls.”
In 1944, during the Slovak uprising against the pro-German regime of Josef Tiso, Gideon and his mother and sister fled Nove Mesto, making their way to Banská Bystrica, which served as the center of the uprising. Gideon’s father fled separately, fearing that anyone close to him would be killed if he were caught.
As German units approached Banská Bystrica, Gideon and his mother and sister fled to the mountains, where they were caught in a massacre at Stare Hory. His mother and sister were killed; Gideon was injured but survived.
A Jewish partisan, Henry Herzog, took Gideon to the village of Bully, where he was placed with the family of Paulina and Jozef Strycharszyk. Henry Herzog’s story, including his meeting the Frieder family and saving Gideon, are detailed in the book, “…And Heaven Shed No Tears.”
Gideon remained in Bully until 1945, when Romanian troops fighting with the Soviet Army liberated the area. Gideon’s father, who also survived the war, later found him. His father remarried but died in 1946.
After the war, Gideon and his stepmother came to Israel. He remained in Israel until 1975, when he emigrated to the United States. Today, he holds the A. James Clark Chair of Engineering and Applied Science at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and volunteers at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
http://www.ushmm.org/remember/office-of-survivor-affairs/survivor-volunteer/gideon-frieder
Gideon Frieder will share his heroic story of survival in the UCA Farris Center on Monday, 9 March 2015 at 7:00 PM.
This event is open to the public with free admission.
UCA English Department Produced McNally’s Works From Grove Press
The English department engaged to produce three volumes of the works of playwright Terrence McNally have completed the first volume, which will appear later this year from Grove Press.
In 2013, Dr. Frontain received the first installment of what would come to a $24,000 grant from McNally’s publisher, which has supported the work of three graduate students over two years. Selected Plays will contain eight plays with introductions by McNally, while Vol. 3 of McNally’s Collected Plays will be published by Smith and Kraus. Dr. Frontain and his current graduate assistant Darby Burdine expect to complete the remaining volume, which is an edition of McNally’s essays on the theater, in summer.
UCA graduate student Eliza Killey (right) chats backstage with four-time Tony Award winning playwright Terrence McNally (center) and six-time Emmy Award winning actor Tyne Daly (left) following a preview performance of McNally’s new play, Mothers and Sons. The production, which stars Daly, is McNally’s twentieth Broadway play. While pursuing her M. A. in English at UCA, Killey has worked on the team producing three volumes of McNally’s plays and prose.
McNally is one of America’s most honored playwrights. The winner of four Tony Awards (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, Master Class and Love! Valour! Compassion!), he has most recently been represented on Broadway by the Tony Award-nominated Mothers and Sons, and by the record-breaking revival of It’s Only a Play. Previews will begin in March for his new musical with John Kander and Fred Ebb titled The Visit and starring Chita Rivera, which opens April 23.
President Courtway Shared Accomplishments of 2014 And Highlighted Visions For 2015
Dear Friend,
As we begin a new year, we thought it would be a good idea to reflect on some of the university’s accomplishments in 2014, and also let you know what is happening at UCA in 2015.
Over the past year, there are many achievements of which we should be proud. Enrollment continues to increase. Several construction projects are underway or about to commence. And, our financial condition continues to remain in a very healthy and positive state. All of this is to provide for and enhance the UCA experience for students, faculty and staff.
This video captures what has been accomplished and highlights our vision for 2015 and beyond.
Thank you most of all for your support of, and commitment to, the University of Central Arkansas and its students.
Sincerely,
Tom Courtway, President
#UCAGrad Video Was A Selfie Success
UCA President Tom Courtway upped his selfie game this past weekend at the UCA Winter Commencement.
Congratulations to all the UCA grads!